The effect of sodium phenobarbital on learning and "reasoning" in white rats
Abstract
Groups of rats given different amounts of the drug over a long period of time (110 intraperitoneal injections, each separated by 48 hours) made consistently poorer maze and "reasoning" scores 50 days later than did a group given injections of distilled water. The drugged animals were also inferior in relearning tests. There was no clear evidence that the inferiority of learning scores is in direct ratio to size of dosage. The basis of the inferiority of drugged animals was not apparent. However, physical lethargy was not responsible.